by Nana Malone
“I wonder what the surprise is going be,” Trina said.
“Surprise?” Tatiana asked, turning to her sister, who still hadn’t stopped looking about the room. Tatiana was grateful to Trina for changing the direction of her thoughts.
“Yes, she said there would be a surprise a little later on. I wonder what it could be.”
Tatiana looked to her grandmother. She knew what it was going to be. The smile on her face told Tatiana so. “What is it, Grandmama?”
Lady Ashurst opened her eyes wide. “Why do you ask me?” she said, feigning ignorance very badly.
“Do you know?” Trina finally turned to look directly at their grandmother.
Lady Ashurst just shrugged.
“Of course she knows. But she’s not going to tell us,” Tatiana said, a little annoyed. She wasn’t sure she liked surprises. The last one she’d had was when her parents had announced that Trina was going to go to London to make her curtsey to society—and that Tatiana wasn’t.
And just at that disturbing thought, another appeared at her elbow.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Mr. Vallentyn said, bowing to them. “Haveland,” he nodded to the gentleman.
“Vallentyn, good to see you,” Mr. Haveland reached out his hand.
Mr. Vallentyn may have clasped hands with him, but his eyes remained firmly on Tatiana. She could feel his gaze burning into her even though she was deliberately not looking at him. It wasn’t easy.
“My congratulations, Haveland. You’re a very lucky man,” Mr. Vallentyn said, finally turning away from Tatiana. She snuck a peek. As handsome as ever in a dark blue coat with a stunning waistcoat of blue with blue and silver embroidery, he was smiling at her sister.
“Thank you. I am well aware of it.”
“I think I’ll get some lemonade,” Tatiana said, and moved away from the group.
She needed to get away from Mr. Vallentyn. She’d sworn to get him out of her mind, and she knew that that wasn’t going to happen until she stopped seeing him every time she turned around. For that reason alone, she was almost looking forward to going home.
She couldn’t have him, so she didn’t want to think about him.
“Let me.” Mr. Vallentyn’s hand reached in front of her, gently making a path for her between two people who were standing back-to-back, each engaged in conversations with other people. “Pardon us,” he said to one, as the lady turned to see who was trying to get by.
The woman moved and Tatiana slipped by. She was feeling so hot and hemmed in that she wanted nothing more than to sprint through the room to get to the refreshments. But there was no possible way to move any faster than a crawl in the packed room. Mr. Vallentyn was easing the way for her—but that didn’t help, since it was from him she was trying to escape.
A wide open space miraculously opened up in front of her. She took advantage of it and dashed forward.
“The refreshments are this way,” Mr. Vallentyn said, indicating for her to go to the right. But there was light and air coming from the left, so she went in that direction instead.
“Miss Tatiana?” he called, coming after her.
In front of her, the doors to the garden appeared. They had been thrown open to allow fresh air into the overcrowded room. She paused before going outside. She wasn’t sure she should without an escort.
“Is there something wrong?” Mr. Vallentyn asked, coming up next to her.
She refused to look at him. She couldn’t. She would be lost in his eyes if she did. It would be too painful.
“No, why do you ask?” she answered, keeping her gaze firmly on the garden.
“You seem to be running away from me. Or is it just my imagination?”
What could she say? She said nothing.
“Have I done something wrong? Said something that hurt you?”
“No!” She couldn’t help it, she turned to look at him. His eyes were full of concern, his golden eyebrows drawn down.
He took her hands in his own. “Then what is it?”
She couldn’t say. She just shook her head and turned to look back out at the garden. His hands, still holding hers, sent little sparks of heat running through her. Why did he feel so good? It wasn’t fair.
“Tatiana,” his voice was like velvet sliding over her skin. She fought hard not to envelop herself within its delicious warmth. It was the first time he had used just her name, without the polite ‘Miss’ before it.
Her eyes stung. She realized she’d stopped blinking she was staring so hard, trying not to look at him.
“Let’s go for a walk.” He let go of one hand and tucked the other into the crook of his arm, leading her outside.
She shouldn’t. She mustn’t. But she couldn’t stop herself.
* * * * *
Chapter 12
Kit searched his mind for something he’d done wrong, but just couldn’t think of anything. Could it have something to do with her sister becoming engaged? Was she worrying about her own circumstance?
He led her down the path and amongst the trees, finally stopping far enough away from the house so that the noise from the party was just a murmur in the background. As they moved around to the far side of a tree, Tatiana turned around and leaned back against the trunk. She looked up at him with such sadness in her eyes.
He stepped close. Running a finger down the soft skin of her cheek, he forced her to look up at him. “Now tell me,” he insisted.
She shook her head, but the words came out anyway. “I’ll be going home tomorrow.”
Her words cut into his heart.
Immediately, his mind spun to her parents. Would they consider his suit if he applied to them? They had to. He knew now with an absolute certainty what he’d been fighting for the past two weeks—he loved her. He could not accept not being allowed to spend the rest of his life with her. No matter what it cost him.
Looking at her, he knew words couldn’t come close to conveying his feelings. He leaned down, gently feathering his lips against hers to show her how he felt. But it wasn’t enough, not when she responded so deliciously, reaching up to meet him.
Sparks flew through his mind and his body. All thought ceased. Joy, completeness and need drove everything else from his mind.
But she was so sweet, so innocent. He didn’t want to scare her with his ardor. He forced himself to back off. His body screamed for him not to—nearly to the point of pain. But he took himself in control and pulled back to look down at the woman he loved.
She wasn’t there.
There was another woman in her place. Beautiful, glowing, powerful. Her hair was a rich, luxuriant brown, her cheeks and lips full and pink, her huge eyes an unfathomable black that left him nearly gasping in their depths. Kit blinked. “Tatiana?”
The word was hardly out of his mouth when he heard a gasp. Lady Southburn was standing only a few feet away with her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and knowledge that she had a story to tell.
“Lady Southburn!” The words tore from his lips.
“Oh my!” the lady said, gasping again.
“You may be the first to congratulate me. Miss Tatiana has just consented to become my wife,” he said, turning back to Tatiana. He almost choked. The demure young lady he’d known for the past two weeks was there again. The other person, that striking woman who’d been there just a moment ago, was gone.
Magic! He nearly trembled with shock. She’d done this. She’d masked herself from him, from the world. How could she do that? How could she hold on to her magic for hours at a time? Days perhaps? And it wasn’t just her looks which she’d masked, it was her power as well. He had felt it when he’d looked at her after their kiss.
And now, it was gone. She was the same rather dull-looking young woman she had been. It was incredible.
“Oh! Oh, how wonderful!” Lady Southburn said, pulling Kit’s mind back to the present. “Indeed, congratulations, Miss Tatiana. How very happy you must be to have made such an excellent match.”
>
“A little too opportune, if you ask me,” his father said, coming up from behind Lady Southburn.
* * * * *
Chapter 13
“Father! Uh, no, not exactly opportune, except, of course, for the opportunity. That was quite unexpected and, and wonderful,” Mr. Vallentyn said.
Tatiana turned to look at him. It was the first time she’d ever heard him sound awkward. Tatiana, herself, was still reeling from his kiss, then his shocking announcement to Lady Southburn—what would her parents say when she had no right to accept a marriage proposal? Now Lord Durrington had joined them as well?
She gripped the tree behind her for support. She knew Mr. Vallentyn had seen her, the real her, when he’d pulled back from their kiss. She couldn’t have helped it—she’d completely lost control of her magic when he’d kissed her. It had felt so good that she’d melted in arms, her mind going completely blank. And she’d let go of her magic.
She’d shocked the poor man, but he’d recovered with amazing speed with Lady Southburn. His father’s presence, however, especially right after so many other shocks, was clearly more than he could manage.
Still, she saw Mr. Vallentyn quickly catching himself. He cleared his throat, and gave both his father and Lady Southburn a smile as he pulled himself back together. “You know that this is something I have been thinking of for some time, Father. Although I must admit, I did take advantage this beautiful setting, and the romance of the day, to ask for Miss Tatiana’s hand. I do hope you will pardon me for doing so, my lady?”
Tatiana was certain he had infused a touch of magic into his words for Lady Southburn was immediately charmed, smiling, and nearly giggling. “Oh, but of course, Mr. Vallentyn. They are lovely gardens, and you are not the first to take advantage of them for such a purpose.”
Mr. Vallentyn gave his father a nervous look, and then turned back to Lady Southburn with one of his most charming smiles. “You are too kind. Without a doubt, this is going to be the talked about party of the season.”
“Oh, my, yes!” she cooed. She then started. “I must see to my guests. I do hope you will excuse me.” She gave a quick nod to them all, and then scampered back to the house. There was no doubt in Tatiana’s mind that Mr. Vallentyn had orchestrated that with his magic.
“Well done, Christopher,” his father snarled. “At least you got that right, sending that old gossip off. Although you know exactly what she’s going to do—spread word of this sham engagement throughout the ton.”
“It is not…” Mr. Vallentyn began.
“Not a sham?” his father interrupted. “No? Do you actually mean to marry this conniving girl? Will you give up your inheritance? Your place in the world? Your place in our family? For all of that will be gone. You just say the word.”
Tatiana was horrified by Lord Durrington’s words. But turning to Mr. Vallentyn, she became furious.
His beautiful waistcoat was in tatters, and blood was beginning to seep from the gouges his father’s words had cut into his chest.
“How dare you!” she hissed, spinning back to Lord Durrington, her fury overriding everything else in her mind.
“Tatiana,” Mr. Vallentyn’s warning barely registered in her mind.
“How dare I?” Lord Durrington spat back. “How dare you? You have used your wiles to tear my son away from his family. You have no understanding of duty…”
“Father! Enough!” Mr. Vallentyn said, stepping in front of Tatiana to shield her from his father’s harsh words, even as she began to feel them cut into her own body. Mr. Vallentyn’s voice vibrated with powerful magic. “You don’t know...”
“Oh, I know perfectly well,” his father retorted, slashing away Mr. Vallentyn’s words. He turned back to Tatiana. “You little…”
“Not another word,” Tatiana warned him, her voice dangerously quiet as she stepped forward next to Mr. Vallentyn. She threw her own magic into the mix, effectively cutting off Lord Durrington’s voice—so that even if he wanted to say more, he would not be able to.
But of course he tried—and all that he succeeded in doing was to open and close his mouth like a fish, his face turning red with the effort.
“Tatiana, that is not the answer,” Mr. Vallentyn said. He gave a wave of his hand and his father stumbled forward.
“…No sense of duty, of family,” Lord Durrington continued as if he’d been speaking all along.
Tatiana trembled with her anger. This time there was no ceiling to impede her magic. A bolt of lightning hit the ground less than a foot away from Lord Durrington.
He jumped. “And intimidating me with magic isn’t going to change my mind.”
“Tatiana, stop.” Mr. Vallentyn’s words were quiet and gentle, seeping into her mind.
A ground-shuddering roll of thunder followed the lightning, before another bolt hit no further away, on Lord Durrington’s other side.
“I know nothing of duty?” she asked.
“You would take my son,” Lord Durrington started, oblivious to the danger he was facing.
“Tatiana, stop now!” The command in Mr. Vallentyn’s voice was stronger this time. Not only did it slither into her mind, but it grabbed a hold of her magic and cut off the next bolt of lightning that was about to come even closer to Lord Durrington.
She spun to look at Mr. Vallentyn, her fury directed now at him. “Don’t you dare stop…”
“You cannot kill my father,” Mr. Vallentyn said, lacing his words such strong magic that Tatiana wasn’t sure she could break through them. Her confidence wavered.
“And clearly with you here, she wouldn’t be able to, would she?” a new voice said, coming from the direction of the house.
Startled, they all turned to face the newcomer.
“Mother!” The word popped out of Tatiana’s mouth. Her fury was gone, blown away in her astonishment.
“I believe the word your grandmother wished me to say was, ‘surprise!’” Her mother turned toward Mr. Vallentyn, and said, “Bravo to you, sir,” as she joined them beneath the trees.
“I assume that you are Mr. Vallentyn, the man Lady Southburn has been so pleased to tell everyone is now engaged to my daughter?”
Mr. Vallentyn seemed to be trembling as he bowed in acknowledgement. “And this is my father, Lord Durrington,” he said, indicating his father, who was still scowling, but seemed unsure of himself. Had he noticed Mr. Vallentyn’s nervousness or could he sense her mother’s power?
“I assume, my lady, that you are here to inform your daughter that you will not stand for this ridiculous proposal?” Lord Durrington asked.
Tatiana’s mother turned to him, taking a moment to size him up. She raised an eyebrow as she folded her arms across her body. “I admit that I had come out here to do exactly that. But now that I’ve seen what your son is capable of, I believe I’ve changed my mind.”
She turned back to Mr. Vallentyn. “You will do very nicely. Well done, Tatiana.”
“You cannot be serious!” Lord Durrington exploded.
Lady Ashurst turned back to the man, giving him a look that made him take a step back, away from her. “I am always serious.”
“Mother? You approve of my marrying Mr. Vallentyn?” Tatiana asked, just to make absolutely sure she understood.
“I did just say so, did I not, child?” her mother asked. “You are an extremely lucky man, Mr. Vallentyn, you do realize this? It is quite a responsibility you are taking on here.”
“The responsibility is mine, Mother,” Tatiana protested, “not his.”
“What responsibility, ma’am? There is something very important I’m missing here,” Mr. Vallentyn interrupted.
“What are you two going on about?” Lord Durrington echoed his son, looking from Tatiana to her mother and back again.
Lady Ashurst looked at Tatiana. “I can see that you’ve hidden yourself well, child. So I assume that you’ve not told either of them.”
“Told us what?” Lord Durrington asked again.
&
nbsp; Tatiana let her magic fall away. “No. I haven’t…” She could hear Lord Durrington gasp, but Mr. Vallentyn seemed to be expecting it.
Her mother tsked. “Really, Tatiana, you cannot agree to marry someone without informing them of what they’d be getting themselves into. That’s not right.”
“But I didn’t really think you would allow us to marry. You said that you would be choosing my husband,” Tatiana argued.
“Excuse me,” Lord Durrington broke in again, his voice slightly cracking now with nervousness.
Mr. Vallentyn, too, looked expectantly between Tatiana and her mother.
Tatiana stayed quiet and allowed her mother to do the explaining. Lady Ashurst just shook her head before turning to the two men.
“Tatiana is of the sixth generation, her seventh child will be the Seventh. That is quite a responsibility for both her and the child’s father.”
“The seventh what?” Lord Durrington asked.
“You don’t mean…” Mr. Vallentyn started, but his words petered out. He was beginning to understand, Tatiana was certain.
“What do you mean the seventh, what?” Lady Ashurst snapped at Lord Durrington, clearly now thinking him an imbecile.
“He doesn’t know, Mother.” Tatiana said. She turned to Mr. Vallentyn. “You know now, though, don’t you?”
“I have an idea, but it may be entirely wrong,” he said. Tatiana wished she could have wiped his forehead clean of the worry lines criss-crossing it.
“What? What is it?” Lord Durrington was perhaps beginning to lose his patience.
Tatiana took pity on him. “My mother is the High Priestess of all Vallen. Upon my twenty-first birthday, I will take her position. I will be the sixth to do so since the last Seventh, so, according to the prophecy, my seventh child will not only become the High Priestess, but also the Seventh—the one destined to be the most powerful Vallen in centuries.”
“The one who gives all Vallen the power back that we have lost over so many generations?” Lord Durrington’s voice squeaked.
